A forensic audit of Ghana’s organisation of African Games 2023 has revealed that the country spent in excess of $40 million on avoidable cost.
he audit, which was commissioned by President Mahama last year and sighted by Joy Sports detailed the country’s expenses for the competition that began late February 2024 and ended on mid-March same year.
The report identified millions of dollars and cedis in questionable claims, inflated rates, omitted works and avoidable costs across several projects.
The comprehensive audit into facilities constructed and refurbished for the Games highlighted what it described as “opportunity costs”, irregular variations and inconsistencies in Bills of Quantities (BoQs), particularly at the Borteyman Sports Complex, University of Ghana Stadium, Games Village hostels, cricket facilities and access roads.
According to the report, the biggest red flag emerged from the Borteyman Sports Complex project, where auditors estimated a net omission and “opportunity cost for scope shrinkage” of $34.43 million from the original contract value of $145.09 million.
The Audit Service said several major components initially captured in the contract were either omitted entirely or significantly rescoped. These included: